The U.S. Department of State issued an official security alert on Monday for American citizens in the Middle East, urging them to maintain a "high level of vigilance" in light of what it described as a complex and rapidly evolving security environment.
The notice, shared via the official account @TravelGov on the social media platform X, warns of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and serious transportation disruptions throughout the region.
The statement directly attributes the responsibility for the attacks against Saudi Arabia to the Iran-backed Houthis, including attacks on civilian airports and critical infrastructure, resulting in casualties among the civilian population: "The Iran-supported Houthis have conducted hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure that have resulted in civilian casualties and serious disruptions to transportation."
Washington also warned that hostilities "have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond the immediate area", and that Iran and affiliated groups could target U.S. interests, businesses, institutions, and citizens anywhere in the world.
The alert advises those traveling to or from the region to monitor the situation of airports and airlines and to prepare contingency plans in advance.
The immediate context of the warning is the devastating Houthi attacks on Saudi airports during the first weeks of October. According to the coalition led by Saudi Arabia, the Houthis launched at least 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh between October 1 and 11, also hitting the terminals in Abha, Jizan, Najran, and Dammam.
The accumulated toll as of October 15 stood at 19 dead and 364 injured in five Saudi airports, according to the coalition spokesperson, General Turki al-Maliki, who described the attacks as "war crimes."
The deadliest was on October 10 against the airport in Riyadh, with 12 dead and 309 injured, including one American citizen. The UN condemned this attack due to the high number of civilian casualties, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly confirmed the death of an American citizen.
The alert comes amid a sustained military escalation between Washington, Israel, and Iran that intensified in February 2026, when both countries launched “Operation Epic Fury” against Iranian nuclear, missile, and naval facilities. Iran responded in July with ballistic missiles aimed at U.S. bases in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait, and the U.S. launched new airstrikes against Iran on July 30.
At the time of the alert, Trump had not ordered a new offensive, although the Pentagon was preparing military options against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities. Trump himself mentioned on October 16 the underground facility “Pickaxe Mountain,” near the Natanz complex, as a possible target.
Israel, which is holding elections on October 27, keeps the option of coordinated operations open, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not support a preemptive strike before that date.
High-ranking Iranian officials warned on Monday that any new attack would provoke a "different and more severe" response, while the Revolutionary Guard specifically threatened Israel if Iranian energy facilities were targeted.
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